<p>I'm really confused. UT Austin is financially the best option but I really love the other three. I'm really torn about them and am looking for insight into the schools. Any information you have (especially from current students or parents of current students) would be great!!</p>
<p>Thanks for you help :-)</p>
<p>you need to give much more context so we can help. UT and Brandeis are more prestigious than the two DC schools. what do you want to major in? what activities would you like to do? do you want to live in an urban or suburban environment?</p>
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<li><p>Take out AU, its not worth the price for what you get out of it.</p></li>
<li><p>I didnt look at Brandeis or UT but I really liked GWU, you just need to have $53000 burning in your pocket.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>jojo18, as a Brandeis alum and keen observer of the school, I have shared my perspective with others on this site; so allow me to share it with you.</p>
<p>Of course you need to choose a school where you would be comfortable. However, in terms of both education and prestige, I believe the easy choice to be Brandeis. Brandeis truly is an amazing school. It’s a special combination of small liberal arts college and world-class research university-with the smallest student body I believe (less than 800 in a class) of any top tier national research university matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. So, the research opportunities are tremendous. Plus it’s very close to Boston, which is the world’s best college town, but on its own suburban campus.</p>
<p>Its intellectual environment is comparable in many ways to its University Athletic Association sister school, U Chicago (FYIthe President of U Chicago is a Brandeis alum). Yet its students are down-to-earth, friendly and non-competitive with one another. As you may know, in a recent Forbes national college rankings survey, Brandeis was ranked 15th among research universities and 30th overall among all private univerities and LAC’s–a testament to its focus on undergraduate education. Larger schools, including some Ivies, were ranked much lower. </p>
<p>Despite its small size and relative youth, its alumni are very distinguished–to name just a few: Nobel Prize winner for chemistry Rod Mackinnon, Fields Metal winning physicist Edward Witten (often called “Einstein’s successor”), 3-time Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Friedman of the NY Times, The Earth is Flat etc; Mitch Albom of Tuesday’s with Morrie (about his Brandeis professor), the Creators/Producers of Friends; actress Debra Messing; Robert FX Sillerman (billionaire businessman–currently owner of American Idol and Graceland) and Christy Hefner, former CEO of Playboy). I went to school with several of these folks and can tell you that it’s no coincidence that these fascinating alumni have emerged from the stimulating brew that is Brandeis. Also, if you’re into social justice or theater/music/art, it’s a very exciting place to be.</p>
<p>Finally, the school is very diverse undergraduate and graduate, with a strong international flavor (in fact the majority of its International Business School is international students). With respect to the issue for some of the school’s Jewish population, you should understand that less than 50% of its student body is Jewish. Brandeis is a non-sectarian school that embraces students from all types of backgrounds based on merit. The school has no religious affiliation, although it was founded and is funded signigicantly by the Jewish community. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!.</p>
<p>for more context: I’m interested in double majoring in International Affairs/ Relations/Studies and economics. I’m from Texas and really interested in getting out and I love the east coast. I wanted a medium to large (ish) school with strong programs in what I was interested in. I really think all three schools have it which is why I’m so lost</p>
<p>Go to UT Austin, none of the other schools are worth the extra cost.</p>